Advanced technology for heart care

The new hybrid procedure room's advanced imaging equipment and technology offers new treatment options for patients.

After five years of planning, design and construction, a new hybrid procedure room is now open for patient care at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

The unique room combines a fully functioning, sterile operating room with a catheterization lab. The space can efficiently and safely transition into either function.

Although it was designed primarily for minimally invasive structural heart procedures — including transcatheter aortic valve replacement therapy (TAVR), valve repairs and replacements, and Watchman™ left atrial appendage closure implants — the innovative space can quickly transform to be used for more complex, open procedures.

"The room's advanced imaging equipment can help ensure the best patient outcomes because we can see better visuals, so we can do procedures more quickly and with less radiation exposure," says Dr. Gollapudi.

The room was designed using the Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care, which focuses on treating the whole person. The hybrid procedure room features tranquil, aqua blue walls; wood cabinets; and an open floor plan to help create a comfortable, inviting atmosphere for patients, many of whom remain partially awake during their procedures.

Inside the room is the most advanced heart procedure technology available: a fluoroscopy C-arm that rotates 360 degrees around the patient and provides precise imaging and low-dose radiation; live-streaming video; specialized lighting; and three high-definition, 60-inch monitors that rotate 180 degrees to allow doctors to easily view images.

An adjacent control room — typically found in traditional catheterization labs — enables viewing, recording and monitoring of a procedure or surgery.

The room is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Reinaldo Beyer, a cardiologist who provided heart and vascular care to Sharp Memorial patients. He was a leader within the hospital's structural heart team, and instrumental in advancing the idea of a hybrid procedure room.

His wife, Dr. Elizabeth Noll, along with his colleagues and friends, established a special fund in Dr. Beyer's name at Sharp HealthCare Foundation. The fund received more than $250,000 in philanthropy from more than 100 donors, which included family members, patients and staff.

Dr. Beyer was passionate about interventional cardiology, innovation and technology, and the new Sharp Memorial hybrid procedure room is a testament to his legacy.

For the news media: To talk with Dr. Gollapudi about the hybrid procedure room at Sharp Memorial Hospital for an upcoming story, contact Erica Carlson, senior public relations specialist, at erica.carlson@sharp.com.